Advice: Almond vs. Charcoal Interior?

[khulk]

Looking into purchasing a 2015 SV Rogue and I was wondering if some owners could give me some advice.

The way I see it...

Almond: Like the look of it more. Shows dust less. Cooler in hot climate. But I thought how it could show stains so much easier (my spouse's Elantra's tan interior is starting to get dirty!). I've heard how clothing dye (jeans in particular) could stain seats too.

Charcoal: Don't like the look as much, but dust is easier to clean than stains. Also, I could deal with the heat. (I have a gray interior car right now...)

So almond-interior owners, how much maintenance do you have to do for your Rogue? Does it stain easily? (Does it really just depend on how messy of a person you are?) Would upgrading to the SL's leather be any better for that?

Thanks!

[NYCH]

I have the same issue and can't decide which color is better

[1019throw]

I opted for the almond interior. Personally, I think it gives the interior a much more luxurious look to it. I've had no issues with dirtiness problems, and I've owned the car since January. I grabbed some scotch guard off of ebay just to help with protection. If you haven't, I would go look at them both in person. The black color, just blended into the dash and didn't do it for me.

[DTASFAB]

I have a personal bias against almond/tan/beige interiors. I prefer navy, gray, or black. So I would say go with the black.

My 2013 SV has a black premium cloth interior and it's great. I almost bought one with the gray interior, and I'm so glad I went with the black. The heat is not really an issue because of the privacy glass. It keeps a lot of the heat out.

The black seats don't really get dusty. The dash gets a lot more dusty than the seats. Sometimes tiny bits of debris can show up and be visible on the black seats, but most of those particles would also be visible on lighter colored seats as well, just not as pronounced. If these things bother you, they're going to be noticeable and bothersome regardless of the color of your seats. Go with the black.

[Ferrisfan]

I had thought the almond interior would look better over time, but I am now regretting the decision. I have the leather interior, and my seat shows a noticeable band where my black belt has stained the seat back where they rub together.

Floormats also show more dirt, but I had planned to buy weathertech mats eventually anyway.

[khulk]

I opted for the almond interior. Personally, I think it gives the interior a much more luxurious look to it. I've had no issues with dirtiness problems, and I've owned the car since January. I grabbed some scotch guard off of ebay just to help with protection. If you haven't, I would go look at them both in person. The black color, just blended into the dash and didn't do it for me.

Yeah, that's what I thought about the almond as well. I liked the contrast between the almond and the dash. Was it easy to scotchguard the interior? (Because I already have a bottle of upholstery scotchguard at home...)

I have a personal bias against almond/tan/beige interiors. I prefer navy, gray, or black. So I would say go with the black.

My 2013 SV has a black premium cloth interior and it's great. I almost bought one with the gray interior, and I'm so glad I went with the black. The heat is not really an issue because of the privacy glass. It keeps a lot of the heat out.

The black seats don't really get dusty. The dash gets a lot more dusty than the seats. Sometimes tiny bits of debris can show up and be visible on the black seats, but most of those particles would also be visible on lighter colored seats as well, just not as pronounced. If these things bother you, they're going to be noticeable and bothersome regardless of the color of your seats. Go with the black.

That's a good way to think of it. Thanks for the advice!

I had thought the almond interior would look better over time, but I am now regretting the decision. I have the leather interior, and my seat shows a noticeable band where my black belt has stained the seat back where they rub together. Floormats also show more dirt, but I had planned to buy weathertech mats eventually anyway.

I was planning on getting some mats from the get-go, considering our winters here. I wondered about the belt/jean-rubbing effect, since I saw someone posted it. It makes me wonder about my husband's car's tan interior... he wears black belts everyday and now I want to inspect his car... haha! Thanks!

[therealroland]

Got the tan leather interior, plus some protection package (yeah, got suckered into that one, but came with remote starter and additional sound padding, which makes this Rogue really really quiet...)

Tan looks good with the midnight jade ;-)

[khulk]

Got the tan leather interior, plus some protection package (yeah, got suckered into that one, but came with remote starter and additional sound padding, which makes this Rogue really really quiet...)

Tan looks good with the midnight jade ;-)

One of the Rogues I test drove was jade with almond leather! (Not a bad color... I'm hoping I can find a red one though!) I didn't know additional sound padding was an option... I don't know what I would do with all the silence! My car now is not silent. Not silent at all.

[JC14Rogue]

Got the tan leather interior, plus some protection package (yeah, got suckered into that one, but came with remote starter and additional sound padding, which makes this Rogue really really quiet...)

Tan looks good with the midnight jade ;-)

That's the combo we got, too. Even tho this probably isn't 'real' leather, any leather cleaning product has always taken stains off light colored auto seats for me in the past. I have black leather in another vehicle and others in the past, and they do show the slightest bit of dust.

[khulk]

Got the tan leather interior, plus some protection package (yeah, got suckered into that one, but came with remote starter and additional sound padding, which makes this Rogue really really quiet...)

Tan looks good with the midnight jade ;-)

That's the combo we got, too. Even tho this probably isn't 'real' leather, any leather cleaning product has always taken stains off light colored auto seats for me in the past. I have black leather in another vehicle and others in the past, and they do show the slightest bit of dust.

Good to know, thanks!

[tsumeone]

I'd say if you are going for leather, get the almond. If you are going for cloth, get charcoal. My reasoning is that light colored cloth seems to stain easier, plus dark cloth seats will not be as likely to give you 3rd degree burns in warm climates (compared to dark leather). Almond as an interior color goes together with pretty much every exterior color except maybe Sahara Sun. The charcoal looks a bit drab on the inside since all of the dash materials are the same color.

[khulk]

I'd say if you are going for leather, get the almond. If you are going for cloth, get charcoal. My reasoning is that light colored cloth seems to stain easier, plus dark cloth seats will not be as likely to give you 3rd degree burns in warm climates (compared to dark leather). Almond as an interior color goes together with pretty much every exterior color except maybe Sahara Sun. The charcoal looks a bit drab on the inside since all of the dash materials are the same color.

That makes sense. I was hoping the almond cloth wouldn't be high maintenance (or at least easy to Scotch Guard! ) But if the dealership has an SL available, I might consider the leather.

Thanks!

[JLD94]

Seems like you might already have in mind which color you want by now. My 2cents. I am not a fan of either black or tan interiors. I had a 1995 Saturn that I bought new that had tan interior and never had a problem, but still not that fond of them. I prefer a dark gray.

That being said, I was fully prepared to get the tan on the rogue because I thought it would be easier to keep looking good....however when I started looking at the other cars on the lot (they only had black interior rogues there at the time) I started to notice spots on the tan demo cars. So I changed my mind and went with a black interior. I am really glad I did. My rogue was not there the day I purchased and they gave me a loaner till it came in, so I had an altima with tan....it had lots of wear spots...or I guess better to say smudges on the seats but especially the stearing wheel. The seats I have no problem with, they never look dirty, however I do notice on the radio area it shows up dust a lot!! Only complaint about the black (I know it's actually called charcol but it's black to me) interior. I've never felt like the seats were overly hot either and I live in central texas...of course I have cloth as well.

[khulk]

Seems like you might already have in mind which color you want by now. My 2cents. I am not a fan of either black or tan interiors. I had a 1995 Saturn that I bought new that had tan interior and never had a problem, but still not that fond of them. I prefer a dark gray.

That being said, I was fully prepared to get the tan on the rogue because I thought it would be easier to keep looking good....however when I started looking at the other cars on the lot (they only had black interior rogues there at the time) I started to notice spots on the tan demo cars. So I changed my mind and went with a black interior. I am really glad I did. My rogue was not there the day I purchased and they gave me a loaner till it came in, so I had an altima with tan....it had lots of wear spots...or I guess better to say smudges on the seats but especially the stearing wheel. The seats I have no problem with, they never look dirty, however I do notice on the radio area it shows up dust a lot!! Only complaint about the black (I know it's actually called charcol but it's black to me) interior. I've never felt like the seats were overly hot either and I live in central texas...of course I have cloth as well.

Yeah, I actually prefer dark gray (or even a medium gray) as well. That's what my current car is, but with the Rogues I have to choose. I've only test driven one with the almond and that was leather. Maybe if I test drive another I'll ask for an SV and see if those seats look dirty already like you saw! And that's impressive the black seats aren't hot, even in Texas!

If only I could see into the future to see which cloth would be better... but if I had that power I wouldn't be using it to buy a car!

[1019throw]

I opted for the almond interior. Personally, I think it gives the interior a much more luxurious look to it. I've had no issues with dirtiness problems, and I've owned the car since January. I grabbed some scotch guard off of ebay just to help with protection. If you haven't, I would go look at them both in person. The black color, just blended into the dash and didn't do it for me.

Yeah, that's what I thought about the almond as well. I liked the contrast between the almond and the dash. Was it easy to scotchguard the interior? (Because I already have a bottle of upholstery scotchguard at home...)





--Sorry I forgot to get back to you. The scotchguard was really easy to apply. Basically just spray it a few inches away. Whole car took me probably 20 minutes. They say to do it every 6 months?

Honestly, it all comes down to how you handle and care for your car, if you/family/friends are accident prone to spilling things, and if you have kids. Its pretty obvious that tan will get dirtier easier, but I am very careful with everything and don't have kids yet. Get whatever one you like better, and go with it. The car won't loose any value cuz there is a small stain on the seat.

[khulk]

I opted for the almond interior. Personally, I think it gives the interior a much more luxurious look to it. I've had no issues with dirtiness problems, and I've owned the car since January. I grabbed some scotch guard off of ebay just to help with protection. If you haven't, I would go look at them both in person. The black color, just blended into the dash and didn't do it for me.

[/quote]

khulk = Yeah, that's what I thought about the almond as well. I liked the contrast between the almond and the dash. Was it easy to scotchguard the interior? (Because I already have a bottle of upholstery scotchguard at home...)

--Sorry I forgot to get back to you. The scotchguard was really easy to apply. Basically just spray it a few inches away. Whole car took me probably 20 minutes. They say to do it every 6 months?

Honestly, it all comes down to how you handle and care for your car, if you/family/friends are accident prone to spilling things, and if you have kids. Its pretty obvious that tan will get dirtier easier, but I am very careful with everything and don't have kids yet. Get whatever one you like better, and go with it. The car won't loose any value cuz there is a small stain on the seat.[/quote]

No problem, thanks for the advice! I decided I'm going to go with my gut and get the almond. Stains or not, I would still be happier getting the color I like more. (I don't have any kids or pets yet, so that should help in keeping it clean. )

Now all I have to do is wait for one to become available...

[ristau5741]

Dark interiors make the inside of your car hotter when it' sitting in the sun. so if you live in a hot sunny area .e.g. southwest. best to skip the dark interior.

if you have a leather interior and you want to clean you interior, the leather cleaner cream getd stuck in all the little divots, and a pain to clean out before it dries and lives there forever making your interior ugly.

[JB'sTitanXD]

I have the almond interior and love it. the black seem too plain and was really hot after sitting in the sun. I keep some leather wipes in the car to clean up any messes right away. after a few months it still looks new.

[khulk]

Dark interiors make the inside of your car hotter when it' sitting in the sun. so if you live in a hot sunny area .e.g. southwest. best to skip the dark interior.

if you have a leather interior and you want to clean you interior, the leather cleaner cream getd stuck in all the little divots, and a pain to clean out before it dries and lives there forever making your interior ugly.

I didn't think about that, thanks! I'm probably going with the cloth, but I will let my sister know about that. (She has leather seats in her new car!)

I have the almond interior and love it. the black seem too plain and was really hot after sitting in the sun. I keep some leather wipes in the car to clean up any messes right away. after a few months it still looks new.

That's good to know that it still looks good. Thanks!